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Coppiced trees are cut at ground level, leading to the rapid growth of many poles from the original single stool or stump. Depending on the required product cants or compartments of woodland are cut on a rotation of anywhere between 5 and 30 years, typically close to 15. This results in woodland of great structural diversity and therefore biodiversity. Light encourages the growth of woodland ground flora, a diverse invertebrate community and specialist birds and butterflies, including nightingale and the heath fritillary.

Coppice with standards was the traditional management regime. Standards are trees that are not cut and are allowed to grow on. Underwood products such as poles, stakes and faggots were harvested from the coppice. Scattered standards were allowed to grow onto maturity for timber for the construction and maintenance of buildings.